Review: United Polaris Lounge San Francisco Airport

By: Ben Schlappig

Updated: February 9, 2023
Published: March 12, 2019

38 comments

United Polaris Lounge access rules

United’s Polaris Lounge is intended to be an international premium cabin lounge, so there are two primary ways to access it:

If you are flying United longhaul business class the same day; you can use this even if your longhaul United flight isn’t actually out of San Francisco, but also if you’re connecting (so you could use it if flying Frankfurt to San Francisco to San Diego, for example)
If you are flying nonstop Star Alliance business or first class out of San Francisco the same day; under this circumstance (if not flying United), you can access it only prior to the international longhaul segment, and not after, in the event that you’re connecting onto another flight

This lounge isn’t open to any elite members, so Star Alliance Gold members, Global Services members, etc., can’t use the lounge. On top of that, there aren’t any credit cards with lounge access that will get you in.

San Francisco has service from several Star Alliance airlines, so you can potentially use this lounge if flying with Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, EVA, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore, Swiss, or Turkish.

The good news is that all of these airlines leave from the same terminal, so you’ll be access the lounge easily regardless of which of the airlines you’re flying.

San Francisco (SFO) Polaris Lounge details

Location of United Polaris Lounge at SFO

The United Polaris Lounge San Francisco is located in International Terminal G. Here’s a map of the terminal:

If you’re clearing security at the international terminal, just hang a sharp right after you pass through security, and you’ll see the entrance on the right.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco exterior

If you’re connecting from Terminal 3 (United’s domestic terminal), the lounge is similarly easy to reach. Just follow the signs towards International Terminal G, and you’ll see the entrance after you go up the escalator on the left. Terminal 3 and Terminal G are connected airside.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco hours

The Polaris Lounge at San Francisco Airport is open daily from 6:30AM until 12AM. This covers all Star Alliance nonstop flights out of the airport, and also covers most passengers who would be connecting. However, it’s possible the timing might not work out for some people who are taking an early morning flight to another gateway before their international flight.

I spent almost the entire day in the Polaris Lounge, and I found that it was the busiest in the morning (from around 9AM until 11AM), then it emptied out a bit, and then it started to fill up again in the afternoon, around 3PM.

SFO United Polaris Lounge layout and seating

United’s Polaris Lounge San Francisco is more than 28,000 square feet, making it roughly the same size as the Newark lounge, and significantly larger than the lounges in Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles.

United has a lot of transpacific flights arriving in the morning, though I was still surprised that there was a long line to get into the lounge.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco line to get in

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco entryway

The agents at the desk were extremely friendly and apologetic about the wait. There’s a lot that impresses me about Polaris Lounges, and the consistent friendliness of the people at the front desk is among them.

The Polaris Lounge SFO is two levels. A majority of the lounge is on the second floor, while the first floor is significantly smaller.

The first floor has some seating as well as the showers and nap rooms, while just about everything else is on the second floor. So let’s start downstairs.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco first floor

The first floor has quite a bit of seating and parts feel a bit like a hotel lobby. In general I found the first floor to be significantly quieter than the second floor. Due to the flow of the entryway, most people seemed to head right up the escalator.

The first floor has leather seats along the windows, and then semi-private “cubicles.” All Polaris Lounges feature these, and I love them, because they create a sense of privacy, so you don’t feel like you’re in a crowded lounge even when it is full.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco seating

Then towards the back were some small dining tables, as well as more leather chairs.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco seating

The first floor just had some very light snacks, as well as soft drinks and water.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco drinks & snacks

Then there’s an escalator leading to the second floor, which is the main part of the lounge.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco escalator

If you get off the escalator and walk straight ahead, you’ll get to what’s consistently the busiest part of the lounge, since it’s where the buffet and restaurant are. However, if you walk in the other direction you’ll find an area that’s pretty quiet. So let’s start with that.

This area has some more of the semi-private seats, then there are leather chairs arranged in rows, and then there are dining tables with booth seating.

United Polaris Lounge SFO seating

Behind that is another room, which is almost hidden, featuring some cool couches, as well as more dining tables.

United Polaris Lounge SFO seating

There’s also some seating along a table overlooking the apron.

United Polaris Lounge SFO seating

Speaking of which, this lounge has really great views of the gate area, both in Terminal G and Terminal 3.

United Polaris Lounge SFO view

In the end of this area is a small buffet with very basic snacks, water, and soft drinks.

United Polaris Lounge SFO snacks & drinks

I also love that there are some private rooms here, should you want to make a phone call, or whatever.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco business center

Going in the other direction in the lounge (walking straight ahead when getting off the escalator) is a lot more seating.

United Polaris Lounge SFO seating

Past that was the bar area.

United Polaris Lounge SFO seating

United Polaris Lounge SFO bar

Then there was even more seating.

United Polaris Lounge SFO seating

Then behind that was the buffet, and then the restaurant area.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco buffet

United San Francisco (SFO) Polaris Lounge dining options

Buffet at the United Polaris Lounge San Francisco

While the lounge has an a la carte restaurant, in reality most people just get food from the buffet.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco breakfast buffet

I’ll let the pictures of the food speak mostly for themselves. Here’s a look at the breakfast buffet…

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco breakfast buffet

Then here’s the lunch buffet, available later in the day…

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco lunch buffet

On top of the food, there’s self serve coffee, soft drinks, and water.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco buffet

Just remember that the bar has barista made cappuccinos, so I highly recommend that, as they do a good job with them.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco cappuccino

The bar also has an extensive alcohol menu. Here’s a look at that:

Complimentary restaurant at the United Polaris Lounge San Francisco

The Polaris Lounge SFO restaurant is located at the very back of the lounge on the second floor.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco dining room

The restaurant has just over a dozen tables. At all the other Polaris Lounges I’ve found the dining area to be fairly empty while I was there, which wasn’t the case here. When we ate in the morning there was about a 20 minute wait, but then it emptied out later in the day.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco dining room

Ford and I had breakfast here, and then since I was in the lounge all day, I also had a late lunch here. The breakfast menu read as follows:

Our server was friendly, and offered us drinks to start. I ordered a cappuccino, which was excellent.

United Polaris Lounge SFO breakfast

Our food was brought out within about 15 minutes. Ford ordered an omelet, which he enjoyed.

United Polaris Lounge SFO breakfast

I ordered two things from the “light bites” menu (though I’m not sure I’d call either of them “light bites”). First I ordered the deconstructed bagel and lox.

United Polaris Lounge SFO breakfast

Then I also ordered the tropical mango pudding.

United Polaris Lounge SFO breakfast

Then later on I had lunch, and the menu for that read as follows:

To start I ordered the crispy shrimp cake.

United Polaris Lounge SFO lunch

Then I had the chicken katsu bento box.

United Polaris Lounge SFO lunch

Lastly for dessert I had the tiramisu espresso cup.

United Polaris Lounge SFO lunch

Everything I ate in the lounge was exceptional, and I still pinch myself that this is really in a US airline lounge.

San Francisco (SFO) United Polaris Lounge features

Showers & nap rooms

The area with showers and nap rooms is located on the first floor.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco showers & nap rooms

The lounge has eight shower suites.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco showers

The suites were spacious, and water pressure excellent. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, were in resuable containers in the shower.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco shower room

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco shower room toiletries

There are also five nap rooms, though I never ended up using one.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco nap rooms

Bathrooms

While perhaps minor, I appreciate that United has individual bathrooms in the lounge, and they’re located in two areas, and there was never a wait.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco bathrooms

United San Francisco (SFO) Polaris Lounge experience

Lounge ambiance

This might sound minor to some, but makes such a huge difference in my perception of the lounge. The Polaris Lounge has soothing music in the background, and they also don’t make announcements in the lounge.

This makes such a big difference, in my opinion. In some lounges you either have the TV blasting, or you have an announcement every minute. That’s not the case here, and I oh-so appreciate that.

Lounge service

I had nothing but good experiences with the service in the Polaris Lounge. From the people at the front desk, to the servers in the restaurant, to those roaming the lounge, everyone was friendly and seemed to enjoy their jobs.

United Polaris Lounge San Francisco bottom line

I have nothing but good things to say about this lounge, or any Polaris Lounge. United has done a spectacular job with these lounges, and every time I use one I can’t believe that it belongs to a US airline.

This lounge is spacious and well designed, and has great amenities, food, and drinks. I also love the background music they have in the lounge, and the lack of announcements, which create a soothing atmosphere.

Talk about a stark contrast between United’s lounge experience and their onboard experience, at least based on my flight from Tahiti to San Francisco…

If you’ve visited the Polaris Lounge SFO, what was your experience like?

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